NewarK Police arrested Robert Manning, 27, Edwin Hernandez, 26, Divine Galette, 18, Elajawan Sneed, 18, Katherine Bell, 22 and Israel Vera Paniagua, 29, all of Newark and Donald Moseley, 25, of Elizabeth for possession of loaded handguns and related offenses over a two-day period, May 18-20.
According to to
police on May 18, officers acted on citizen complaints of drug activity in the area, at approximately 1:30 p.m., detectives assigned to the Criminal Intelligence Unit responded to the Wynona Lipman Housing Complex.
Police say they observed a vehicle running and unoccupied. Upon their investigation, detectives found the owner, Robert Manning with a loaded .9 millimeter handgun from the vehicle.
Police arrested Manning and charged him with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of prohibited ammunition and hindering.
The same day, detectives from the shooting response team executed a search warrant of a defendant’s vehicle and seized a loaded .9 millimeter handgun.
Police arrested Donald Moseley on May 19 after a motor vehicle stop on Hanford Street.
Police say as Moseley looked for his credentials, officers noticed a gun in the rear of his car.
Officers arrested Moseley then charged with the unlawful possession of a loaded .9 millimeter handgun, possession of prohibited ammunition and several drug charges as the officers also seized over 165 Percocet pills.
Police say,!Edwin Hernandez was arrested on May 13th after officers observed him make a narcotics transaction in the area of Broad Street and Lincoln Park. He was charged with possession of CDS, distribution of CDS, distribution with 500 feet of a public park, distribution within 1,000 feet of a school, resisting and several warrants.
His car was impounded and a search warrant requested.
According to police on May 19th, detectives executed the search warrant and seized a loaded .40 caliber handgun from the vehicle.
Police charged Hernandez with the unlawful possession of a handgun, receiving stolen property (the gun) and certain persons prohibited from possessing a weapon.
On Saturday evening, two separate victims reported being robbed at gunpoint by males in a white Mercedes Benz. Detectives Marc Castro and Steven Resendes, assigned to the Special Enforcement Division, were in the area of Lyons Avenue near Hobson Street when they observed a white Mercedes Benz illegally parked with two occupants.
As the detectives approached the car which fit the description of the suspect vehicle, two males exited. The driver was detained; the passenger managed to escape. In the front passenger seat of the car were two guns.
Through their investigation, detectives were able to gather sufficient evidence identifying Gallete as one of the suspects who had committed the armed robberies at Highland and Park avenues and Roseville and 2nd avenues.
Police arrested Gallette then charged with two counts each of robbery, receiving stolen property (one of the guns and the Mercedes Benz), possession of a handgun and the unlawful possession of a handgun. He was also charged with conspiracy and resisting arrest.
On May 20th, near Fabyan Place and Cypress Street, detectives assigned to the Neighborhood Focus Initiative observed a male at the location smoking marijuana.
When they approached the suspect, Elajawan Sneed, they observed a gun in his bag. Sneed was immediately arrested. The gun, a loaded .38 caliber, was seized. The suspect was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of CDS and certain persons prohibited from possessing a weapon.
Police say on the same day, detectives assigned to the Special Enforcement Division were in the 700 block of Frelinghuysen Avenue when they stopped a car for a motor vehicle violation. The driver was later found in possession of CDS and was arrested. The female passenger, Katherine Bell, was found to have a warrant.
As police arrested Sneed, detectives found a loaded .22 caliber handgun on her.
Police say she was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a handgun and certain persons prohibited from possessing a weapon.
In the 100 block of Hunter Street, May 20th just after 8:00 p.m., officers responded on a man with a gun call. When they arrived they found Israel Vera Paniagua at the location with a gun in his passion. He was arrested and charged with the unlawful possession of a handgun.
Director Ambrose said, “The officers in the field work tirelessly to keep our city safe. In 2 days, they have removed 9 loaded handguns of different calibers off Newark streets. I am proud of the work that the men and women of the Division do day in and day out. I applaud them for their dedication and continued commitment to making Newark a safer place for us all.”
Adding, “This time last year police removed 177 firearms from our streets. To date, we have recovered 226, excellent work by our police officers.”
These charges are merely accusations. Each suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Director Ambrose is urging anyone with information about any crimes or suspicious activity in the city to call the Department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS
(1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). All anonymous Crime Stopper tips are kept confidential and could result in a reward.